16 week appointment

[Pinklilly]

Hi all has anyone had a 16 week appointment? My notes state that it would be virtual brainwashed no letters. I called at 15 weeks and was told midwife will call you anytime during 16weeks, I explained this was impractical as I work for nhs so I may not have my phone available. So far I have heard nothing and am now getting concerned. Additionally I cannot find any bus antenatal classes gathered associated with my hospital and just getting a bit fed up.

That's the way my trust are running as well @Pinklilly. It's a real pain!
My booking appointment was on the phone, no date or time just 'sometime the week of...' and it'll be the same for my 16 week.

I queried it and they said they can't commit to a specific date or time because they spend a lot of time playing catch up as people don't answer the phone etc. Surely if they gave specific appointments people would be more likely to answer and they'd spend less time tracking people down

That sounds a bit crap, although you probably aren't missing much in reality. My 16wk appt was in person but I have friends that have done it by phone. For me they've done routine checks at every appt - urine and BP. Other than that some MW have a listen in to baby's heartbeat (not all do that at 16 weeks) and then ask if you have any questions - I had a list but you might not! You could probably arrange BP and urine test separately if you have any concerns and then hopefully pick up with the MW at some point on any questions? My urine tests have flagged issues so I'm glad I had them, although did some via GP rather than wait 4wks for MW appt. There are no antenatal classes here either - they have pre-recorded online stuff (which they seem to have nicked from an adjacent county) but that's it. You can pay to do classes (e.g. NCT) but usually don't start until third trimester anyway. Hopefully once lockdown eases some of the hospital stuff will restart as well.

I only have a mw app booked for right at the back end of my pregnancy.
I have a few high risk factors under my belt so booked in with the consultant at the hospital next week instead. I'll be 16+6 when I see them and they'll do all the normal checks there. Better than a phone app so no complaints from me.

I had 8 week booking appointment on the phone with MW then an appointment a week later for urine, BP etc - no 16 week appointment, my next MW appointment is April 15th, which is after my 20 week scan by which point I’ll be 21 weeks - ridiculous! I am wondering whether I should contact my MW about this as I would prefer to have heart beat checked to make sure everything is okay as it’s such a big gap since the 12 week scan however I’m sure she’ll tell me they’re all booked up!

My 16 week appointment last month was a blood pressure check, urine test and listening to baby's heartbeat. Not sure how they could do that over the phone!

Hi everyone thanks for replying, it shows how varied the 16 week appointment is. I just don't think phone appointments are useful and feel frustrated that other trusts listening to heartbeat or checking bp of mum. I have found in general that care during pregnancy is a lot less than I expected. I know we aren't unwell and it is not a condition as such, but so much is happening in our bodies that we can't see. Perhaps that is more reflective of my personality but I do feel very sort of okay get on with it. Between 12 and 20 weeks feels like a long time.

@MM1993 That’s pretty standard unfortunately! I had my little one at the end of last year and had barely seen midwife all pregnancy 😔
8 weeks - booking appt over phone
12 weeks - scan then nurse for bloods/urine
20 weeks - scan
23 weeks - first face to face midwife
Then I wasn’t seen again at all until 35 weeks 😐 I was phoning every week trying to get an appointment or something and was told it wasn’t possible due to covid. So had 35 week then 38 week growth scan then that was me 😐 My midwife team is also only contactable by phone if you leave them a message and they phone you back within a week 😐😳

Gosh @Squish3 that sounds so limited, I'm sorry that was your experience. I just think they tell us to refrain from over researching or reading into everything but then effectively leave us to it. I do feel something is missing. I'm very aware of the pandemic as I work for the NHS and instead I have adopted an approach of trying to reassure my patients even it's by phone but at least making appointments rather than I'll call you at some point in march! I hope your pregnancy went well!

@Pinklilly I felt it was very limited too! Completely understand there are bigger things going on at the moment but as you say...reassuring patients is a much better way to go! When I complained at 35 weeks about lack of contact I was told they “usually prefer 1st time mums at the moment because they don’t know what to expect in terms of levels of care” which I thought was pretty shocking!!
Pregnancy went well thank you! Induced at 39+5 due to baby measuring big and baby born on his due date 😊 Currently 4 months old and an absolute wild child 🤣😅
Hopefully appointments etc will be back on track soon for your pregnancy with restrictions starting to ease off 🤞🏼🤞🏼 Hope your pregnancy goes well!

Mine was on the phone so obviously nothing could be checked. Totally pointless.